Short Summary

THE FIRST RUSSIANS EVER TO PLAY IN A SENIOR WIMBLEDON TENNIS FINAL, ALEX METREVELI AND 19-YEAR-OLD OLGA MOROZOVA, HELD OUT UNTIL THE 26TH.

Description

THE FIRST RUSSIANS EVER TO PLAY IN A SENIOR WIMBLEDON TENNIS FINAL, ALEX METREVELI AND 19-YEAR-OLD OLGA MOROZOVA, HELD OUT UNTIL THE 26TH. GAME OF THE SECOND SET BEFORE LOSING TO THE AUSTRALIAN FORMER HOLDERS OF THE MIXED DOUBLES TITLE, KEN FLETCHER AND MRS. MARGARET COURT.

A BIG CROWD REMAINED UNTIL THE END OF THE MATCH - THE LAST OF THIS YEAR'S OPEN WIMBLEDON - EVEN THOUGH IT DID NOT END UNTIL DUSK YESTERDAY (SATURDAY).

THE YOUNG RUSSIANS, SEEMINGLY OVERAWED BY THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE IN A FINAL ON WIMBLEDON'S FAMOUS CENTRE COURT, BEGAN NERVOUSLY AND CONCEDED THE FIRST SET 6-1, IN FOURTEEN MINUTES.

BUT THEN DEVELOPED A MIGHTY BATTLE, WITH THE SERVICE GAMES OF THE RUSSIAN PLAYERS FREQUENTLY IN PERIL. BUT WITH THE SET STANDING AT 12-11 IN THEIR FAVOUR, AND WITH MISS MOROZOVA SERVING, THE RUSSIANS MISSED THREE MATCH POINTS.

THEIR FAILURE TO TAKE THE SET AT THAT POINT PROVED DECISIVE.

TWO GAMES LATER, THE AUSTRALIAN PAIR - TWICE FORMERLY HOLDERS OF THE TITLE - BROKE METREVELI'S SERVICE TO TAKE THE SET 14-12.

THE CROWD BROKE INTO PROLONGED APPLAUSE AT THE END OF THE MATCH, WHICH HAD PROVIDED MORE THRILLS THAN ANY OF THE OTHER FINALS PLAYED OUT DURING THE DAY.